It was saturday afternoon, Parth just returned after practice. He was worried little. He didn't see Ryan since two days and he wasn't there too in the sports Complex with his teammates.
" Tomorrow, we have the competition but i didn't see him going outside these days for the practice." he thought, " he was not there today either but why am i thinking about him? Why am i feeling sad if i didn't see him? "
" Parth, come down for the lunch. " Lily called him from the downstairs.
He came in the courtyard. His grandma was waiting for him for the lunch.
" Come darling. " she said.
" Where is Pa? He will not eat? "
" He had already eaten an hour ago. He is taking rest in his room."
Lily also came to join them.
" Today, it's Isla birthday. "
" Isla? " grandma looked at him and said," Who is she? "
" That girl grandma who lives in that building. Our new neighbour. I told you that day she came looking for Parth. " Lily tried to remind her.
" Ohh.. " she shook her head.
" There is party this evening in her house and she has invited me too. Should i go? "
" Of course you should go. " both blurted out at the same time.
" But with one condition. " Lily said looking at him.
" What? " Parth was wondered at her, " Why is she talking about condition? "
" Don't go empty- handed, buy a gift for her. " She said and bursted out laughing.
He sneered at her and said, " Look grandma, she always teases me. "
Grandma smiled and smacked on her head lightly.
Around 7 o'clock in the evening, Darsh and Eva came to his house. Parth was getting ready for the party.
" You are looking damm handsome. She is not gonna notice me. " Darsh said.
" Don't worry, she is yours only but do you have the courage to propose her? " Parth said looking himself in the mirror after getting ready.
Eva was waiting for them downstairs. She was talking with Lily.
" Are they getting ready for birthday party or getting ready for their marriage? " Lily said.
Eva looked at the watch and said, " Yeah. What are they doing? "
Parth took the gift and both of them came downstairs.
" Let's go now." Darsh said.
They walked out of the house and went to her building.
" Wow! What a house? It's not less than a palace. " Darsh got surprised looking at the building. As they reached the main entrance, the guard stopped them.
" Tell me your names. " the guard said.
" I'm Darsh. " he took the responsibility for introducing themselves. He pointed to Eva and said, " She is Eva."
" He is Parth. We are Isla's school friends. "
The guard looked at them for a moment. Meanwhile Isla came outside and said to guard, " Let them come inside. They are my friends. "
They went inside. There was a large living room decorated with flowers, balloons and glittering chandeliers. The house was even more beautiful from inside.
" Come this way. " Isla said. They followed her, people were chatting in small groups, seemed very happy. Parth looked around for Ryan. He squinted when he found him . He was talking with his friends in which that girl was also there whom he saw the other day with Ryan outside his building and trying to kiss him.
" When are you going to cut the cake? " Parth said.
" It'll take an hour. Many guests are yet to come." She said, " till then have some drinks. "
She called a young boy who, wearing dress like a waiter of a hotel and he was serving drinks to the guests. He came and served them drinks. Darsh and Eva were habituated of such high-profile parties but for Parth it was the first time. He was feeling little awkward, especially when he knew what Ryan thought of him.But he was happy as he saw him after two-three days.
" How handsome he is! " Parth thought.
Ryan was busy with their friends, laughing out sometime. Suddenly, that girl from his group looked at him. She whispered something in Ryan's ear and Ryan also whispered back then both of them bursted into laughter. Parth understood that they were laughing at him.
" Parth, i need to use restroom. " Eva said.
Parth looked around to see where restroom was. It was at a few distant, in a corner of the living hall near about where Ryan and his friends we're talking .
" It's there. " pointed in that direction, Parth told her. But she was hesitating to go there alone. Parth said, " Come with me. I'll take you there."
Eva and Parth went there. She went inside and Parth remained standing outside waiting for her. He was standing near Ryan's friends.
" Who is he? " One of his friends said, pointed to Parth.
Ryan gave him a disgusting look and said, " If he is standing outside a restroom then you can figure out what can be he ".Hearing this they all started laughing.
Parth kept quiet because he didn't want any argument with him and spoil Isla's birthday party.
" We don't go near to such middle class people." Ryan said.
" Exactly. " that girl said.
" Then why did you invite such people? " one of his friends said.
" I didn't invite him.He studies with my sister. She invited all her classmates.She invited him too. So that he didn't feel bad of being ignored."He said, " You know it's our bad luck. Our college will compete with a team in which he is also playing. The same ball which he'll dribble, i'll use too for basketing. "
Ryan said louder to make him listen. It was getting unbearable for him but he couldn't move away without Eva.
" It's really awful." the girl said raising her eyebrows little up. " Anyhow, they're going to lose this competition."
Parth walked to them and said, " Hello ma'am. Do you think so? "
" What do you mean? " she shoutout.
" I mean do you think that we're going to lose and he will win? " Parth said.
" Of course. There's no doubt in it. Do you have any problem with me. " That girl came forward, little closer to him and said.
Ryan pushed her back and he himself came forward and said, " You talk to me and no doubt we'll be winner."
" What if we win? " Parth said.
" Oh really! do you think so? " Ryan said and bursted out laughing., " What a nice joke! Don't be overconfident."
" You just reply what will you do if we win? " Parth got little hyper now.
" If you win, i'll let you go after my sister and if i win, you will have to break the friendship with her. " Ryan said and looked at him scornfully.
" Fine.. If you win then i'll break friendship with Isla. But if i win... " Parth said.
" Then.. " Ryan said
" What did you say few minutes back? Yeah you were telling them that you don't come near people like us. You don't like to be even touched by us.They were listening and enjoying it." Parth said, " They will enjoy more when you will kiss me if i win."
" You bastard. " the girl shouted and came forward to slap him but Ryan stopped her.
" Are you crazy?" Ryan said, " Oh! No, you are not an idiot, you are gay. Even more funnier thing now this is.".and he laughed.
" It doesn't matter what i am? They only thing matters is that if you accept my challenge. " Parth said.
Ryan didn't reply anything. Looking to his face closely, Parth said, " No problem. I got it. You are scared." and now only he laughed.
" Okay. Done. " Ryan said.
" Ryan please no " the girl said " I can't tolerate this, someone kissing you in front of me."
"He is tricking you. Please do say yes to him." she said.
" Don't worry Rose, i won't lose against him. ' Ryan tried to convince her.
Eva came out of the restroom. She saw Parth talking to Ryan. So, she rushed to him, grabbed his hand and walked away from there.